The price of progress
Clear-cutting for proposed development adding to water woes for Bible Hill resident
BIBLE HILL
Drainage issues have long been a problem for Maggie Traverse during her 30 years on Guest Drive.
But since the higher-elevated property behind hers was recently clear-cut in preparation for a large housing development on College Road, Traverse said her issues have gotten much worse.
“I’m finding right now, I’m having a problem shutting my back door,” she said, of the way her home has shifted in recent weeks.
Traverse spent $2,000 in recent years on a drainage system around her property, which had helped with her water problems. But that soon changed after the trees were removed from behind her home.
“Two weeks after they clear-cut I was getting sink holes,” in her front lawn, she said.
Traverse has complained to municipal officials with the County of Colchester and developer
Helen Craig about her concerns, but so far, “I feel like it’s falling on deaf ears.”
Mayor Christine Blair said it is her understanding a buffer of trees was supposed to have been left along the edge of the developer’s property line but obviously that did not happen. But she said the Community Development department is assessing the situation.
“And I know that the flood advisory committee is concerned about water coming down there. The residents are concerned about drainage,” she said. “So
there are a lot of issues that the development officer is working with them on.”
“This was my little oasis and they took it away.”
Maggie Traverse
Craig, however, said the drainage issue that Traverse is experiencing existed long before any trees were removed from her property.
“What we’ve done has changed nothing for Margaret’s property,” she said.
“There’s definitely no drainage from our area down to hers. Nothing has changed. All we did was take the trees down, preparatory for construction.”
Craig said she already has 67 people on a waiting list for her new homes and said it is very much a needed development. She also said she’s not hearing of concerns from other residents.
“I’ve addressed every single question on Guest Drive and gone to see those people and really the only one that has been complaining is Margaret,” she said.
“As of right now, engineers and surveyors have told us that nothing will change in the surrounding terrain on Guest Drive or nothing has changed for the Guest Drive people.”
She also said new trees will be planted along the property line after the homes have been built, if not by the new owners, then “we will.”
“But’s it’s not going to solve the drainage problem she has on her property because we didn’t start it, we didn’t add to it and it’s not going to go away even if we put buildings up there,” Craig said.
Traverse, however, is adamant her water issues have intensified after the trees were removed.
“I am livid,” she said. In addition to damage the additional water is causing to her home’s foundation, she said, it’s also creating unneeded mental anguish and stress.
“I don’t want to live here anymore,” she said, while looking out across the open expanse behind her backyard.
“This was my little oasis and they took it away.”